The Washington Capitals will be back on the clock early on Saturday, after selecting forward Lynden Lakovic in the first round on Friday. The Caps hold the fifth pick in the second round, helping lead off a day that will see all picks in the final six rounds be made.
The Capitals hold four selections on the second day of the 2025 NHL Draft, one in each round, until the sixth round. While less talked about than the prospects rumored to come off the board in the first round, the Caps have regularly found great value on day two with picks in later rounds.
For example, the team picked Aliaksei Protas in the third round of the 2019 draft, and Protas is now the 11th highest scoring player from that class. They seemingly hit again just last year when they took Ilya Protas, Aliaksei’s younger brother, in the third round, and he followed it up by skyrocketing up top prospect lists after his first year in the OHL.
Here are all of the picks the Capitals will have on the second day, barring any trades.
Capitals picks on Day 2 of the draft
- No. 37 – second round
- No. 93 – third round
- No. 123 – fourth round
- No. 155 – fifth round
The following is a list of names the Capitals should consider adding to their organization after the first round.
Artyom Gonchar – LHD, Metallurg Magnitogorsk (MHL)
#26 ranked International skater by NHL Central Scouting
The first thing that should jump out to you about Gonchar is, of course, his last name, and he is indeed related to former longtime Capitals defender Sergei Gonchar. The nephew of the former offensive dynamo on the backend is also an offense-leaning blueliner who recorded 25 points (7g, 18a) in 50 games for Metallurg Magnitogorsk’s MHL team last season.
The Chelyabinsk native is a great passer, loves to join the rush, played first-unit power-play minutes, and works hard in his own end. The issues that will force him into the later rounds of the draft stem from his size, as he stands 6 feet tall and weighs just 156 pounds, one of the least pro-ready bodies in the class.
Given his lack of size, he has shown little to no physicality, and his defensive effectiveness, especially in front of the net and along the boards, is questionable. Gonchar is simply a player with a second-round skill set but fifth-round NHL projectability, which makes him an intriguing prospect.
Chris’s take: I couldn’t not put Gonchar on this list just for the sake of his last name alone, but I also think there’s definitely some legit hidden value that could be found by picking him. Over the past few years, I have become less sure about traditional evaluation of Russian draft prospects due to several factors, including just the sheer availability of prospects to be scouted. The size concerns with Gonchar are for real, but so is the talent.
Owen Griffin – C, Oshawa Generals (OHL)
#70 ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting
Griffin shot up draft boards after a very impressive OHL postseason, during which he racked up 29 points (16g, 13a) in 21 games. No player in the league scored more playoff goals than he did, and he achieved those results on an Oshawa team where he had to fight for ice time with three former first-round picks: Beckett Sennecke, Calum Ritchie, and Colby Barlow.
The Ontario native is a smaller center, standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 160 pounds, but still plays a very responsible, smart, and tough brand of hockey. If he can unlock more of the offensive potential he showed in the playoffs, he could be a genuine steal in the mid-rounds of the draft.
Griffin notched 51 points (22g, 29a) in 62 games during the regular season, and over half of those points (31) came when the calendar flipped into 2025. He still needs to work on finding a second gear with his skating and obviously needs to pack on a considerable amount of size, which should help with the former.
Chris’s take: I really, really like Griffin. He’s an absolute nightmare to play against and so smart with the puck. During the OHL playoffs, there were times, for me, when he was much more noticeable than his star teammate, Ritchie, down the middle. He plays a 200-foot game, and the only thing left for him to figure out is if he can do the same at the pro level. The end of the third round seems like a good landing spot for him.
Alexander Zharovsky – RW, Salavat Yulaev (MHL)
#5 ranked International skater by NHL Central Scouting
Zharovsky was one of the most talked-about prospects heading into this year’s draft, and many thought he had even worked himself up into late first-round pick territory. He went from an unranked international skater by NHL Central Scouting at the midterm up to fifth-ranked in their final rankings. He played the entire 2024-25 season in the MHL, recording 50 points (24g, 26a) in 45 games.
The talented Russian winger has puck-on-a-string level skill, making tremendous individual plays and beating defenders one-on-one with magical moves. He is one of those players who seems to get faster when he has the puck, but can also slow the game down if he chooses to. After his junior season concluded, he got valuable KHL playoff experience, playing seven games for Salavat Yulaev.
Zharovsky, like many of the players on this list, needs to add size to his 163-pound frame. Doing so should help him take his skating to the next level and increase his physical involvement in games.
Chris’s take: Zharovsky should be high on the Capitals’ list when their second-round pick comes on the clock. However, there are a few other Russian prospects, such as Daniil Prokhorov and Ivan Ryabkin, whom I discussed in the first-round post, that would also be good picks if Zharovsky is off the board or the Caps simply have them ranked higher than him.
Patryk Zubek – LHD, HC Banska Bystrica (Slovakia-Jr.)
#130 ranked International skater by NHL Central Scouting
Zubek is a rare Polish entry into an NHL draft and is looking to become just the seventh Polish-born player to be drafted and the fourth to play in an NHL game. While his junior career began in his native Poland, the 6-foot-3-inch, 207-pound defender relocated to Slovakia for the 2022-23 season and has remained there since.
The big, left-handed defender has dominated the Slovakia under-20 league, recording 58 points (10g, 48a) in 52 games over the past two years. He made his first foray into the top-flight Slovak Extraliga last season, playing one game for HC Banska Bystrica. The 18-year-old rearguard already has an NHL body and knows how to use his size. He is also great with the puck and played at all strengths this past year.
Zubek is a player who could even go undrafted, as although he possesses a number of great tools, including his size, his feet have unfortunately never caught up to that size. He’s considered one of the worst skaters in the draft, and his first-step burst is nonexistent; he also struggles laterally.
Chris’s take: Zubek is a player first introduced to me by the brilliant Byron Bader and his tremendous Hockey Prospecting model, which you should subscribe to. Anyone who claims to have known of Zubek and another prospect mentioned later in this post is likely taking credit that Byron deserves. I truly believe if more teams just drafted based more on what his model says, they’d be better off. The Capitals have done miraculous work with skating in the past, and Zubek is likely still a second-round talent, even with his current issues. He’s a guy teams are going to regret passing on when someone annoying like the Hurricanes (yes, them again) takes him in the sixth or seventh round.
Mans Goos – G, Farjestad BK (J20 Nationell)
#4 ranked International goalie by NHL Central Scouting
The first thing that stands out about Goos, like Josh Ravensbergen from our first-round post, is that he’s a massive goaltender. He stands 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 199 pounds, having turned 18 only this past May. The big Swede played his 2024-25 hockey at the Swedish J20 level, posting an 11-12 record with a 3.17 goals-against average and a .893 save percentage.
Goos is a very raw project goaltender, as despite being an athletic goalie for his size, he still has some trouble making quick reaction saves. His size alone helps him close down angles, but he can stray too much from good positioning, especially when he has to deal with second and third rebound chances.
Love Harenstam was originally expected to be the first Swedish goaltender selected in this class, but Goos overtook him by the end of the season. Goos went from the ninth-ranked international goalie at the midterm to the fourth-ranked in the final rankings, indicating he’s headed in the right direction.
Chris’s take: Like I said with Ravensbergen, the Capitals tend to take at least one goalie in each draft. However, they haven’t selected one higher than the fourth round since taking Ilya Samsonov in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft, so a name like Goos fits more of what they could be looking for. He’s a project, and the Capitals have time to wait for a big-time project with their current situation in net at the NHL level. He’s definitely a high upside bet, and at worst, potentially could be a guy for Hershey down the line.
Charlie Cerrato – C, Penn State University (NCAA)
#110 ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting
Cerrato is the first overager we’re going to take a look at, and for good reason. The Fallston, Maryland native, and son of former Washington Commanders GM Vinny Cerrato, had a breakout year in his first NCAA season with the Penn State Nittany Lions, recording 42 points (15g, 27a) in 38 games. Cerrato, 20, notched a beautiful behind-the-back pass for the primary assist on the goal that sent Penn State to their first-ever Frozen Four this past spring.
Big Ten hockey is no joke, and Cerrato tore the conference up in his first season of college hockey after playing the 2023-24 campaign in the USHL with the Youngstown Phantoms. Cerrato is a very dog-on-a-bone type player, loves getting in on the forecheck, and has stellar offensive instincts. He’s also no slouch defensively, always poking away at the puck and creating turnovers.
Cerrato needs to pack on more muscle and hope that with added strength, he can start finding the back of the net more with his shot. He’s also great off the rush, but could improve his decision-making and develop some more effective one-on-one moves.
Chris’s take: There was zero chance that I was going to leave a fellow Marylander off this list. I know we also have a ton of readers who are PSU alumni, and I’d probably be drawn and quartered if I didn’t include their guy. Cerrato is legit outside of those factors, though, and would be a great fifth-round selection. More Marylanders’ success in the pros means more chances for future Marylanders and maybe one day, please, a team in the Big Ten for the Terrapins. Raise high the black and gold.
Matus Lisy – LHD, HK Nitra (Slovak Extraliga)
#73 ranked International skater by NHL Central Scouting
Lisy is another Slovak league product, having played the first part of the 2024-25 season at the under-20 level and then later graduating to the Slovak Extraliga. At the junior level, he recorded 28 points (3g, 25a) in 19 games, while at the senior level, he produced six points (1g, 5a) in 27 games for HK Nitra.
The 6-foot, 181-pound blueliner is more likely to be drafted than Zubek, his draft-class and positional peer in Slovakia. Lisy is a very creative defenseman with great hands and has a real competitive streak to his game. He’s not the biggest defender, but he has a nice shot and good offensive instincts.
Lisy certainly has a lot of high-risk, low-reward type plays in his arsenal that may never go away. He’s also not nearly physical enough in the defensive zone, and there are concerns about his skating. He’s also not great under pressure with the puck.
Chris’s take: Lisy is the other prospect that I solely know about because Byron Bader introduced me to him through his model. After watching tape on him and doing my research, I don’t like him as much as Zubek, even if the traditional draft boards actually have Lisy ranked much higher. Still, you can’t ignore the offensive production, and he’s certainly worth a flier in the later rounds as all of those picks are virtually lottery tickets.
Mateo Nobert – C, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)
#56 ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting
Nobert formed a fantastic partnership with likely mid-first-round pick Justin Carbonneau on the Armada last season, recording 67 points (28g, 39a) in 57 games. He then led Blainville-Boisbriand in playoff scoring during their five-game series loss to the Sherbrooke Phoenix in the first round of the QMJHL postseason, notching five points (2g, 3a) in four games.
The 6-foot, 166-pound centerman is another player with size concerns in this draft who would likely be a much higher pick if he were just an inch or two taller and weighed 20 pounds more. Nobert’s strengths are his confidence and direct play, matched with a really intelligent, heady two-way style. He’s a great skater, good with the puck, and a true pain to play against.
Nobert could still refine the defensive side of his game and, obviously, add more muscle to his frame. He also tends to make simple plays a little too complicated sometimes.
Chris’s take: Nobert is one of my favorites on this list and seems like a kid ready to break out in a big way next season. He is one of the younger players in the draft, still 17 until August, and was already shooting up draft boards after his very strong second half. He’s a prospect that brings immediate energy whenever he jumps over the boards and could be a steal if the Capitals can snag him with their late third-round selection.
Liam Danielsson – RW, Orebro HK (SHL)
#110 ranked International skater by NHL Central Scouting
Danielsson is the other overager on this list, turning 19 in August. He absolutely dominated the J20 level in Sweden this past year, recording 57 points (15g, 42a) in 31 games. He also played 26 games for Orebro HK in the senior SHL, notching two points (1g, 1a).
The 5-foot-11, 165-pound winger is a really shifty, smart player who loves to operate as a playmaker. He is a tremendous passer of the puck and did not look out of place defensively when playing against men in the SHL.
Danielsson’s issues arise with his skating as he’s not quick enough or strong enough to be a primary puck carrier. He can also fall in love with the perimeter of the rink too much and can’t create his own scoring opportunities.
Chris’s take: Danielsson is a player I identified early in my preparation for these posts, and he unfortunately didn’t have the season I thought he was capable of having. The skating didn’t really take a step, and he didn’t add goals to his game. Despite that, I still like him as a sixth or seventh-round selection if the Capitals somehow end up with one. The production at the J20 level is noteworthy, and he wasn’t a negative at all when he stepped on the ice in the SHL. His touch on the puck with passes is also legit.
Alexander Pershakov – RW, HC Sibir Novosibirsk (KHL)
Unranked International skater by NHL Central Scouting
Pershakov is another Russian player whose evaluation remains a matter of debate. The 18-year-old winger, who turns 19 in October, recorded 38 points (21g, 17a) in 33 games at the Russian junior level last season. His great offensive performance in the MHL eventually earned him a promotion to the KHL, where he appeared in 15 games and recorded one assist.
The 6-foot, 176-pound winger showed that he was a true offensive weapon against players his age, using a potent shot and deft playmaking to fill up MHL scoresheets. Pershakov is also not afraid to throw his weight around, and no matter what anyone says, you don’t get 15 games in the KHL at 18 years old for no reason. Sibir Novosibirsk also trusted him enough to stick around for the playoffs, where he played another seven games against men.
Pershakov needs to add muscle, like many of the prospects on this list, and be more active and competitive without the puck. He also needs to work on the defensive side of his game, although he does kill penalties.
Chris’s take: I might be the highest on Pershakov of anyone evaluating draft prospects. He’s the guy I have circled in Capitals red this year. I love his shot and release; it’s so sneaky, quick, and accurate. Others have concerns about his skating, but I really don’t see it, and I think he’s a guy who will only gain a step as he matures. He is an innate playmaker with great hands, is super confident with the puck, finds soft spots on the ice, and just oozes super smart offensive potential. He also plays taller than he actually is, especially when handling the puck, since he has long arms. I honestly have a mid-second-round grade on Pershakov, whereas I believe most others think he’s at best a sixth- or seventh-round pick. I wouldn’t put my house on him panning out, but I think he could be a fantastic value pick.
Honorable Mentions
- Patrik Rusznyak – RHD, HC Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia-Jr.)
- Ruslan Karimov – RW, Sarnia Sting (OHL)
- Gabriel D’Aigle – G, Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
- Adam Benak – C, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
- Tomas Pobezal – C, HK Nitra (Slovak Extraliga)
- Dmitri Isayev – LW, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg (MHL)
Do you have any late-round favorites you hope the Capitals select? Drop them in the comments.
